Mes grands-parents

  My grandmother gives everything away. I mean everything: her beautiful clothing she owned when she was young, the family record player, and my grandfather's beautiful 1920s functional (gasp) typewriter. One could say she has a zeal for it. Her philosophy seems to be "out with the old and in with the new" and she disdains my strange  fascination with relics and clothing from the past. Therefore, I was quite surprised when on last Christmas Eve I discovered she kept all of the old family photos, even the ones of my grandfather's family in the 1920s. Here are a few of the ones I got decent pictures of.

My grandmother in fantastic dress (right) with her friend and the friend's baby. Circa the early 1960s.

My grandparents' wedding photo circa the early 1960s. They made and continue to make a good couple.

My grandfather's class photograph from elementary school circa the mid to late 1930s.

My grandmother's friend on a trip to some distant foreign land. C. 1960s.

  Mostly I am doing this post because I am visiting them at their home in the country this week. Hurrah!

Film #2: Golden Boy

  Initially I had plans to write about Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," but then I saw "Golden Boy" which wasn't in the cards. "Golden Boy" is a 1939 Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden, and Adolphe Menjou film, starring the super young William as the son (Joe Bonaparte) of an Italian immigrant who has to choose in between violin-playing and Babs (Lorna Moon), or boxing and wealth. To make matters more complicated, a member of the Italian mob wants to sponsor him and Lorna's married boyfriend is Joe's manager.

  Yes, it is a little absurd and some of the messages are little corny. But somehow in spite of it all (or perhaps because of it) it is enjoyable, and it has so many good aspects. "Golden Boy" has a pretty violin-piano duets, a love affair between beautiful people, nifty fashions, and a wacky Italian family.

  I think it is time for me to stop rambling on about how much I loved the film. Instead, regardez aux photographies!

William and Barbara in love.

Oh William, why did you have to get a hair cut? You were kinda cute with the curls.

The nutty Italian family + Babs

Joe Bonaparte (William) and his sister Anna  doing a duet.


(Source: Dr. Macro)

Good night!

This weekend has nearly passed by

  This weekend, I went to two garage sales, a vintage car show in Greenwood, and Capitol Hill. The Red Light and Value Village (I have my eye on a vintage cape there) had abnormally good clothing in stock. I engaged in one of my favorite childhood past times: swinging (the other two are reading and inventing imaginary worlds). I mourned the loss of my trusty point and shoot. I made a pie. I watched both "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Prince and the Showgirl." I walked too much and indulged in too much food. I also bought too much. With clothing costing only two or three dollars, how could I resist?
A few photographs (taken with my uncle's camera as mine is broken):

Part 1: Baking

Homemade strawberry rhubarb pie: a collaborative effort

Amelia my co-baker and best friend in a customary act of pre-baking silliness.

 Part two: Brief clothing post with new Madewell full skirt (from Value Village)

Goodnight all. (It's quite apparent that I'm sleepy isn't it?)

P.S. Expect a post on Moonrise Kingdom.

A good egg

  Today was the last day of school, thank goodness. The highlight of my day so far has been when my English teacher called me "a good egg." A) It was really sweet of her. B) For me, that phrase will never not have Wodehousian connotations. I love Wodehouse so. But I digress.

  Yesterday I wore a thrifted mustard shirt and my favorite 1950s grey wool skirt. Oh how I love that skirt! In French class we watched the super sexual tension filled 2006 remake of "Le Silence de la Mer." My pattern came in the mail and I cut out all of the pieces.

(Taken by my mother)

 
  And now unburdened with schoolwork, soon I am going to watch "The Artist" for the second time with a friend, eat salted caramels, and try not to become over emotional about the life of George Valentin.

This week has been kind to me.

Une Femme est une Femme!

  There are so many things that are more enjoyable on this earth than writing an essay for my English class. One of them happens to be posting the results from a 1950s/1960s, French New Wave cinema inspired photo shoot that Amelia and I had in my front yard. The theme was Amelia's idea, and a jolly good one at that if I do say so. It was a mere lucky coincidence that I own a dress a bit like Anna Karina's in "Une Femme est une Femme.
  Overall, the photo shoot was fun and I'm glad we did it!

  Photography by Amelia!
  The "model": Amanda
  Dress via a stand at the Fremont Sunday Flea Market. ($3!)

Pilfered stills from Godard's "Une Femme est une Femme":

Have a good rest of the week!

Blue sixties dress in the U-District

  Last weekend I took so many pictures on my point-and-shoot I have no idea where to begin. Clothing is always my favorite so I will start there. At the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall I bought a tiffany blue and cream sixties dress for ten dollars. I'm not sure how well it fits, but I still like it.

 While in the University District, Amelia photographed me in the dress and I photographed all of the old buildings. Looking back upon my photographs from the day I realize I went a little overboard! We visited Magus Books, which I have to say is the only used bookstore I can think of. Alas, they are a dying breed here in Seattle. I absolutely adore bookstores esp. Magus, which has tons of tiny cheap editions of my favorites and ivy covering the brick exterior. Then we went to the nearby Trader Joe's and bought far too much food. Just thinking of it makes me hungry.

Amelia!

(Me)

First European Voyage

  With passage of time I find myself becoming increasingly nostalgic about a trip I took to Europe at the tender age of thirteen. I remember that on this trip I barely ate anything (exempting potatoes, tomato soup, pasta with pesto, and ice cream), I had a cold, and I was in absolute misery, but as time goes by my mind manages to block out those memories. Instead it remembers the sunset in Volostra, the gelato that was shaped like a rose, the view from the Sacre Coeur, fountains, the gramophone in an Amsterdam flea market, wandering around the streets of Paris, all of the parts of the trip that were wonderful and a little cliched. I cannot help but wonder if this rose colored view is how I will remember most of my youth as I age.
  Oh well, I'm too young to be talking about this. Instead I will show you the photographs I have from the best moments of my trip.